Mr Barros D'Sa, aged 63, can now return to work, 20 months after being suspended amid allegations of "oppressing" a junior doctor.

The decision follows a huge public campaign calling for him to be allowed to return to work.

His reinstatement is in line with recommendations made by an independent inquiry last year.

A joint statement issued after yesterday's hearing by Mr Barros D'Sa and David Loughton, chief executive of the NHS trust which runs Walsgrave Hospital, said: "Following the hearing this afternoon, the trust has accepted the recommendations of the independent inquiry panel and has lifted the suspension of Mr Barros D'Sa.

"Both the trust and Mr Barros D'Sa are pleased the matter has been concluded and that he will be returning to work."

Neither side was willing to make further comment and it is not clear when the consultant general surgeon will be back at work.

Mr Barros D'Sa emerged from the hour-long hearing with his representative Michael Pilkington, of the British Medical Association, and the NHS trust's personnel director, Roger Faulkner.

It is understood the hearing dealt with Mr Barros D'Sa's conduct towards a 51-year-old junior doctor in September, 1999. The surgeon was suspended the next month.

John Ross, chairman of the Alban Barros D'Sa Campaign Committee, said he was "delighted" but added: "The reinstatement does not remove the injustice that this talented and caring surgeon, his family and the patients denied his expertise have suffered for some 20 months.

"However, he is now returning to Walsgrave to help the people of Coventry and Warwickshire, which is wonderful news.

"We wish him success and my committee would like to thank the general public who gave their whole-hearted support, which made all the difference."

"Sense has been seen at last. We don't need to waste any more money now and we can get on with giving health care."

In October last year, an independent panel of three, led by a surgeon and Queen's Counsel Jeffrey Burke, concluded that Mr Barros D'Sa had "oppressed" the doctor, finding him guilty of serious professional misconduct.

The panel recommended Mr Barros D'Sa be reinstated with a first written warning.

Legal wrangles followed, with Mr Barros D'Sa winning an injunction to prevent the trust using specific material in mitigation against his reinstatement and the trust subsequently losing a High Court appeal to overturn this.